Gaseous electric discharge device



Feb. 5, 1935. H. EWEST ET AL GASEOUS ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Feb. 1'7, 1953 INVENTORS 26W BY ATTORNEY GASEOUS ELECTRIC DISCHARGE VICE Hans Ewest, Berlin, and Georg Gai dies, Berlin Pankow, Germany, assiznors to General Elec- 1 tric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 11, 1933, Serial No. 657,272

In GermanyMarch 30, 1932' 4 Claims. (01. 176 -122) The present invention relates to gaseous electric cathode 8 are co-axial cylindrical electrodes and discharge devices generally and more particularly the anode 7 is of greater length and diameter the invention relates to such devices in which than said cathodeB, the ends of said anode "I the gaseous electric discharge is of the negative extend beyond the ends of said cathode 8 in both 5 glow type. directions. Such cathode 8 has a longitudinal slit 5 The object of the present invention is to pro-- 11 therein and said anode 7 has a longitudinal vide an electric discharge lamp device of the negslit 12 therein, said slits 11 and 12 are in line ative glow type which is a line light source. Anwith each other. Said slit 11 is of the same 7 other object of the invention is to provide such length but is greater in width than said slit 12.

a device of simple structure. Still further ob- Said electrodes 7 and 8 are held in a fixed posil0 jects and advantages attaching'to the device and tion with respect to each other by wires 10 atto its use and operation will be apparent to those tached thereto and fused into the glass bead 9. skilled in the art from the following particular When the above device is put into operation description. the greater part of the light emitted byluminous In accordance with these objects the invention cathode glow surrounding said cathode 8 passes l5 comprises a gaseous electric discharge lamp de-- through the slits 11 and 12 and as slit 11 is of vice of the negative glow type having two slitted, greater width than said slit 12 the light spreads cylindrical electrodes, one of said electrodes is out in a fan shaped beam from said slit 12 which smaller in length and in diameter than the other is of great advantage in illuminating a comof said electrodes and the longitudinal axes thereparatively large area such as the dial of a radio. 20 of are coincident. The open slitted parts of said The lamp device is very economical to operate as electrodes are in line. The cylindrical electrode its current consumption is only 2-3 watts. of smaller lengthand diameter is the cathode. v While we have shown and pointed out in the Substantially all the light emitted by the negaannexed claims certain novel features of the in- 5 tive glow discharge surrounding said cathode is vention, it will be understood that various omisdirected through the slits in both of said elecsions, substitutions and changes inthe forms and trodes. A negative glow lamp device having the details of the device illustrated and in its use above structure is a line light source useful in and operation may be made by those skilled in illuminating the dials of radio receiving sets or the art without departing from the broad spirit the like. and scope of the invention, for example, the in- 30 In the drawing accompanying and forming part ner wall of said anode 7'is polished to obtain a of this specification an embodiment of ourinvenbetter reflection of the light emitted by the tion is shown, in which luminous negative discharge surrounding said Fig. 1 is a front view of a negative glow discathode 8, said cathode 8 is of wire mesh in orcharge lamp d vieea d der that substantially all the light emitted by 35 Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof along the line the negative glow discharge is available for pur- 2-2 of Fig. 1. poses of illumination, the discharge supporting .Like numbers denote like parts in both views surfaces of said electrodes '7 and 8 are coated of the device. with an electron emitting material, such as acti- 40 Referring to the drawing the new and novel vated barium oxide, to reduce the potential at 40 lamp device comprises a container 1 having a gaswhich the negative glow discharge starts in the 8011s atmosphere therein Comprising a a a device, and the slits 11 and 12 are straight or such as neon, a metal vapor, such as mercury vacurved, as desired, and have any desired angle D a mixture o rare gas and metal p Such as with respect to the longitudinal axis of said cylina mixture of argon and mercury vapor, or a d ie 1 1eetrode 7 and 3 45 mixture of rare ases, such as a mixture of ar What we claim as new and desire to secure by and neon. A base 2 is attached to said container tt t t of t United st t 1 and a stem 3 is fused in said container 1. 1, A negative glgw electric discharge lamp Current inleads 5 and 5' for the anode 7 and vice comprising a container, a, cathode and an current inlead 6 for the cathode 8 are sealed anode sealed t a gaseous atmosphere 50 int t pinch P 4 of a d Stem Sa d base 2 therein, said electrodes being co-axial tubes, said is of the well known r w a yp n Said anode being greater in length and in diameter anode leads 5 and 5' are connected to the button than said cathode and extending beyond said thereof while the cathode lead 8 is connected to thode in both directions, the side walls of aid the shell part thereof. Said anode 7' and said cathode nd id anode being slitted; said 1 1;; 55

in in line, the slit in said cathode being greater in width than the slitin said anode.

2. An electrode structure for a negative glow electric discharge device, said electrode structure comprising a cathode and an anode, said electrodes being co-axlal tubes, said anode being greater in length and in diameter than said cathode and extending beyond said cathode in both directions, the side walls 0! said cathode and said anode being slitted, said slits being in line, the slit in said cathode being greater in width than the slit in said anode. g

3. A negative glow electric discharge lamp device comprising a container, a cathode and an anode sealed therein, a gaseous atmosphere therein, said electrodes being co-axial tubes, said anode being greater in length and in diameter than said cathode and extending beyond said cathode in both directions, the side walls of said cathode and said anode being slitted, said slits being in line, the slit in said cathode being greater in width than the slit in said anode and spacing supports at each end of said electrodes whereby said electrodes are supported in fixed relation to each other 4. An electrode structure for a negative glow electric discharge device, said electrode structure comprising a cathode and an anode, said electrodes being co-axial tubes, said anode being greater in length and in diameter than said cathode and extending beyond said cathode in both directions, the side walls of said cathode and said anode being slitted, said slits being in line, the slit in said' cathode being greater in width than the slit in said anode and spacing supports at each end of said electrodes whereby said electrodes are supported inflxed relation to each other.

HANS EWEST. GEORG GAIDIES. 

